Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-23

ton and the famous "ahP' that distin.
guishes all the final words OF the
genuine hard.stell Baptists through
the South. a specimen
gem from her address would shine es
follows:
Those five wise virginsah. Were
all readyah. For they took ollah. In
their lampsahl They were not afraidah.
TO meet the bridegroomah. And they
met him with ioyah. For they had
done made preparatIonah! But oh
brethrenahi And sistersah! How will
it bean. With you.allah. In that
great dayah," and so on with ear piercing
monotony for twenty minutes. Imagine
the pleasure Of listening to NsEeh pulpit
oratory. Those friends who have grown
squeamish and critical about the style
aud quality OF their preaching, should
have. been with me and heard this high
toned csptainess In the salvation army.
ahI
Well, it is all right; the audience was
suited, it was just the style they were
used to, and hence it was good enough.
They were orderly and many were being
converted. They even allowed five
pious negroes to worship in q back
corner near me, while all the rest be-
longed to the ruling race.
But Inotice another thing that is not
all right. There are numerous Mormon
missionaries holding meetings much
like these, in the mountainous districts of
Kentucky, Tennessee and the adjacent
states; and they are making hosts OF
converts too. After getting a communi-
ty we'll infected with Mormonism they
require them to migrate to their western
empire. I saw the head missionary of
the south at Chattanooga, where he has
his station. What shall be done about
it?
] do not see that anything can be done.
The southern people are relieiously in
clined. In many places their lives are
so poor and shallow that they eagerly
seize the idea of sometime realizing the
glorious future offered them. They are
anxious for any kind of a change. Like
the best of us, they are easily persuaded
by q t'smart minister" When the have
Q smart Mormon come ell the way to
their remote hills and valleys. they turn
out and listen to smarter preaching than
they ever heard before. A Mormon re-
yival meeting Is said to be just like any
other revival in all its essential features.
The main ideas OF the christian plan are
adhered to, and the saving of souls
tainted with Adams sinful nature, by
redeeming grace, is not a business that
can we'll be objected to il this country /.
They 9 to accept most that other
christians believe. and then build on
that basis their revolving and abomi-
nable system of false revelations, lies {,
absurdities, and crimes against world
wide laws Of marriage. They make their
converts in the good old style; then they
raise them to the higher degrees OF Nor
monism when found worthy and we'll
qualified by zeal and ignorance.
One of the infallible features of this
after training is undying hostility to the
government; and rebellion and treason
are essential parts of that 80 called re-
ligion. What are we to do about it, do
you say2 Well, that is one of the
misersbly hard questions that arise
nowadays. Here is a set of people who
believe Brigham Young and Joe Smith
were inspired, and made revelations, and
spoke o fresh edition of the words of
God; who have the missionary spirit
and want to convert everybody; who
believe the clergy should control the
acts and ideas Of the people; and who
have the martyr, spirit and want TO fight
for their belief. And it is really a tough
question to PROFOUND to another set OF
people who also believe in inspired
revelations, who have the missionary
feeling. who desire the clergy to be
leaders of public sentiment. and who
also are ready to fight for their principles.
I think the questions grow harder as we
advance.
No matter what hoe cake and
other Georgia delicacies I got at
Mr.. Hightower's hotel I found
here q different and more refined enter-
tainment namely mental refreshment
and food for thought, making my pencil
run wild ven after nearly a month has
passed.
The coolest weather here in Florida
WAS before January, and then spring set
In. Two months of delightful spring
weather clothed everything in green be-
fore March. On February 9th I Toasted
on abundant aud delicious ripe straw
berries and mulberrles, saw banana
leaves six feet long, mulberry shoots
four feet long and peaches nearly an
inch through.-aI grown from the bud
since last New Year. Since March lst I
have observed about fifty kinds of wild
flowers in bloom. White water lilies are
now in Blossom. The orange groves have
bloomed, but some trees still contain
hosts Of deliclously sweet, solid oranges,
that have o hung on, ripe and eatable
nearly Six months. P%lne-apples are
setting fruit finely. Watermelon vines
are two feet long and in bloom, where l
am boarding.